Edexcel GCSE R.S.

Revision Guide Sample

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8
Religious experiences
1 What is meant by a numinous experience? (2 marks)
2 What is meant by conversion? (2 marks)
3 Do you think God answers prayers?
Give two reasons for your point of view. (4 marks)
A religious experience is when an individual or group of people undergo an experience that
CONVINCES them that God exists. This page will help you revise the four main types of
religious experience and how these may lead to belief in God.
An experience which completely amazes
someone and often inspires AWE and
WONDER. Usually words are not enough
to describe the experience but it leaves
a person aware of a being greater than
themselves.
A method which believers use to
COMMUNICATE with God. Prayer can be
personal, or can be a group experience when
believers worship together. Believers pray
to share their ideas with God, to praise him,
to thank him for what he has provided, to ask
for forgiveness or to show gratitude.
An experience that causes an individual to
CHANGE their beliefs, ideas or complete
lifestyle. An atheist who had no prior belief
in God may suddenly become a theist or
a person may change from one faith to
another.
An ACT OF GOD that appears to be
impossible as it goes against the laws
of nature. It is usually performed for a
religious reason.
This question is asking for your
opinion on the given topic. You must
give two different and well thought
out reasons for your view, explaining
each one carefully and using
examples to illustrate your meaning.
Numinous experience
Prayer
Conversion
Miracles
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
In the Bible Saul originally persecuted
Christians. After his conversion
experience he became a Christian.
Carmelite monks
have an hour of
silent morning
prayer every day.
A sunrise could be a
numinous experience.
Jesus performed
many miracles in the
Bible such as the
calming of the storm,
the feeding of the
5000 or the healing
of the crippled man.
Types of
religious
experience
DRAFT - SUBJECT TO REVIEW
Unit 1
Edexcel GCSE R.S. Revision Guide Sample
www.pearsonschools.co.uk/reviseedexcel
Edexcel GCSE R.S. Revision Workbook Sample
www.pearsonschools.co.uk/reviseedexcel
8
Had a go Nearly there Nailed it
Religious experiences
1 What is a religious experience? (2 marks)
2 What is atheism? (2 marks)
3 What is prayer? (2 marks)
4 Explain how a religious experience may lead someone to believe in God. (8 marks)
If a person had a religious experience such as seeing a loved one
recover from illness as a result of prayer they might believe that
God had helped them. This would make them more likely to believe.
Do not just give
an example. You
need to give a short
accurate description
of the general term.
Think about a religious
experience that you have
studied and use it in your
answer to help explain
your response.
Guided
Unit 1
DRAFT - SUBJECT TO REVIEW
Edexcel GCSE R.S. Revision Workbook Sample
www.pearsonschools.co.uk/reviseedexcel